I say the worst start because RROD was killing them. Granted PS3 has come a long way also. 360 has to be the most transformed console in history, if you compare the system software (dashboard) it had originally to what it has today, that user interface, all those extra features and services filled in, tight Kinect integration. And then the hardware itself overcoming the RROD, operating much more quietly, allowing full game installs from DVD and booting from USB drives. The list goes on.

PS3 had a bigger transformation and is the most transformed in history, it basically started from scratch with the online this gen, look at it now... thats a huge step. it even added it's own huge social network PS HOME. then there's 3D, ps3 motes, it didnt even have rumble in the beginning, it didn't even have games cause 360 was getting them all. Sony added more First party developers and so many exclusive games, how many devs did MS buy and how many AAA exclusive games were funded? now all the extra features and services added in. psp and psV remote connectivity. now the TV that has the hologram split screen thing. not only are they the most transformed, they are the most innovative.

You're giving Sony props for its so-called transformation of its online system?? If anything, this is the area where Sony fails. You say it started from scratch; who's fault is that?

Credit has to go to Microsoft for being as successful as it is now considering how it was such a new contender in the console race. People forget how Sony pretty much had a monopoly in the console market in the previous generation. People were scoffing at the one year lead Microsoft was going to have, thinking that once Sony came out onto the market, it would obliterate competition. It obviously didn't.

Let's look at the strengths this generation per company:

Nintendo: Brought gaming to the masses and popularised gaming beyond what many ever anticipated would happen. Gaming suddenly wasn't the past time of a few. The mammoth sales speak for themselves.

Sony: Quite a poor start but the PS3 really regained its ground in the later years. A slew of excellent titles and exclusives keep pouring in and more than make up for the deficit at the start. MGS and Uncharted are seminal titles and the likes of the Last of Us mean there is plenty more to come.

Microsoft: Started the ground running with lots of exclusives and really expanded on its online features. Xbox Live has really become its own and MS really did innovate when it came to the console; well thought out interface, sculpted feel of the controller, achievements, ever changing Xbox Live which social functionality that no console competitor can match. Great exclusives in almost every genre (although more are needed now). RROD was a disaster though (like the PSN hacking fiasco) but MS did rectify the situation somewhat.

This generation has given us the most diverse and brilliant gameplay experiences ever. All three consoles have something to offer and the sheer amount of quality games available is staggering. This generation also marked a true awakening of third party developers and excellent titles like Bioshock, Assassins Creed, Battlefield 3, Oblivion, Dead Space, Call of Duty just to name a few.

There's something for everyone this generation and thus, the real winners are gamers. If this trend continues on into the next generation, we're in for a real treat.

PS3 was the biggest disappointment, 6 years ago i dont think anyone imagined the PS3 wouldn't live up to the legacy of it's predecessor. I wont deny that today i would pick a PS3 over a 360, but there shouldn't even have been a PS3 vs 360. Sony came from a dominant position and should've squashed MS, but a mixture of.

Sure you could argue that MS had problems with RROD, i could counter with Credit card theft mandatory installs Constant updates no x gamechat 70,000,000,000$ deficit and deficit from having to give away free games after Credit Card theft and no online for 1 month.

but it's irrelevant. I just hope for the sake of gaming that Sony choses a diffrent approach when the next generation begins.

MS learned alot from the previous generation when they had their asses handed to them by Sony, and decided to switch strategy, and Sony decided to do NOTHING, thats how you loose.

For the category of Technical abilities, the winner is: PS3 for its inclusion of the next gen movie format and advanced cpu/gpu design.

For the category of Marketing, the winner is: 360 for its over the top amount of $$$ put into advertising of multiplatform titles, kinect and non-gaming services.

For the category of units sold, the winner is: Wii for its sheer number of units sold to core (minority), casual (majority) and everyone in between.

For the category of entertainment value, the winner is: Gamers for being privileged to play such console exclusives as Uncharted, Mario Galaxy, Halo as well as a slew of great 3rd party multiplatform titles like Mass Effect, Bioshock,Assassin Creed.

Bottom line...we do not need a single solitary winner in a console war. There is room for multiple winners. Especially us.

If the 360 owners are happy with their console from then till now and think MS won this gen, then so be it. from the RROD to Kinect. yeah, great beginning and end to this gen that the 360 totally deserves to win... Lmfao.

Wii won because of what? they sold the cheapest console available, No HD, with nothing but shovelware crap, a handful of good games, then bail out early to make a new console to catch up with current console power?! yeah okay. great victory nintendo. I'm sure your fans are very happy.

Now the PS3 at first had a ridiculous price tag, arrogant and barely any launch titles to justify that high price point. bluray was not enough to convince me to get a ps3 then because buying a bluray movie was ridiculously expensive and i mainly wanted it to game... The launch titles were not good enough either... But now, sony has completely done a 360 and convinced me how much they improved in every way. from amazing games that come out constantly to improved free online play to PS+ which I LUV! and even when it seems the other console is dependent only on multiplats, they continue to throw exclusive after exclusive still even when no one else seems to care anymore..... so yes, I pick sony as the winner this gen so far because honestly, it's not even over yet.

im glad i dont need to waste my time and explain anything to such onesided ignorant nonsense. and although i do give Ms credit, we'e talking physical console transformation, Not their success. so i am right and sony wins on that part imo.

How is what I said ignorant one sided nonsense? Someone please explain how this kid has 4 bubbles?

Physical transformation? What do you think I'm talking about?

You describe PS HOME as a 'huge social network', reference ps3 motes and vibration functionality the reasons for this so called biggest transformation in history??! Lol Wtf?!

It's unbelievable how much of a complete blind and hypocritical fanboy you are. As I mentioned in my first post, Sony had a monopoly in the generation prior to this one. You're giving it props for transitioning so poorly into the gen and then recovering from it?

I'm sorry but you're in desperate need of education and I just wasted my time and bubble trying to instil some sense into you.

you sound like you just disregarded all the huge points in my comment on the sony side, a good evasion tactic. your comment it completely one sided, and on top of that the things you mentioned in the microsoft transformation can't touch the incredible amount of molding Sony did this generation. i gave MS credit for things they did, but i honestly cannot make up a list for MS as innovative and big as sony's

Speak for yourself :P PS3 is popular in all of Asia (Live services are crap here so we don't get Xbox unless we really need Halo or Gears), Australia and Pretty much everywhere where we don't have uncle Sam trying to take over our country :P

If you took a vote on a a xbox fan site then xbox wins hands down There are more sony fans on n4g so sony will win here. In the actaul real world ms was a underdog and sony was a goliath and foranyone to look at the numbers and say sony won when they lost major marketshare are still in third place overall and hae went from a profit house to currently being worth 14 billion with only 10 million cash on hand and these numbers are recent as in today from business weekly. So anyways Nintendo won this gen from a numbers standpoint, ms would be second as they took on a powerhouse company and won a lot of there marketshare and that leaves sony in third. There is no other way to look at it other than to be a fanboy and I kept my comments out of this post and kept it facts. I expect to get many disagrees since I did not say sony won a. A site that favors sony but if I went to a ms site and said the same thing I would expect a lot of agrees. I just hope people will put aside fanboyism a second and look at the facts at company's marketshare and networth as a company at the start of this gen and where they are today 2012. My 2 cents worth:people on here would fight to the ends of the earth to prove that sonys ceo takes a bigger crap on a daily basis then ms ceo. Numbers don't lie but fanboys do.

microsoft came as a underdog with the Xbox alongside well established gaming giants as Nintendo & Sony and look at where they are now. all three done great. Nintendo sale wise and first party games were great. Xbox dominants the living room media device and excellent games too. Sony done great with exlusives and a big change from its launch.

Overall Nintendo won business wise...afterall they do this to make money...nintendo made the most along with the ds and 3ds currently.

I'll agree with that, but there needs to be an asterisk next to "Popularity - 360", and it needs to note popularity being in the US, because world wide 360 is not the most popular console.

As a gamer, PS3 is the winner for me. It has given me the most great games to play. Call me a fanboy if you want, but it is my winner this gen. I own multiples of each console, and don't shun the others because they too have provided excellent experiences, but if I had to choose one, it'd be my PS3.

Very bias article. Its funny that he didn't mention the format war hd vs blu ray. Everyone knows how that turned out. Also as I recall the kinect sensor is not as accurate as he's making it out to be.

Sony has added a new franchise every year. The PS3 already had features that M$ is just now implementing. Wifi, web surfing, youtube, 3d, blu-ray which the new xbox might be getting, because M$ decided to use old format.

sales-Wii Popularity-PS3 Exclusives-PS3

The only place the 360 is popular is in the US. The year head start help the 360 get the lead, and RROD is the biggest F u from M$ by far. M$ knew the 360 had major issues, yet they released it.

@Hammadtheone you realise there are actually more games avaliable on the 360? It's just there hasnt been many exclusive recently, back in its early life they were churning out things like Kameo, Banjo Kazzoie, Perfect Dark, PGR, however they didn't sell well enough to make money, and that's why m$ business plan changed to less exclusives which sell tonnes, also alot of the old exclusives were from Rare, and we no their now in the Kinect side of things, either way your either trolling or just oblivious.

Assuming you have basic math skills you are probably aware that 1737 is bigger than 1371 and 1201, and so I'm pretty sure you can't argue with these facts and numbers...

Plus, do you even understand how stupid it sounds when you ask me to come up with a game list but write something like "Don't include Halo, Forza, Gears etc."? What do you mean by "etc"? Do you understand that "etc" can count for any game whatsoever and therefore rule out any game come up with?

The ps3 is in the under 2 million gap against the 360 . Hell give it props for coming out a year later and being a higher priced console. It's not over this gen for the hardcore systems . But the wii has this one.

From a business point of view, on the console side both MS and Nintendo won by gaining and regaining a lot of market share while Sony lost a lot of it. On the other hand Nintendo is no longer the only notable competitor in the mobile handheld market, with PSP selling a handsome amount of +70 million it isn't all market share loss for Sony after all.

But for me personally Sony is the winner with PS3's game library, free online, PS+ & Blu-Ray.

I don't thin they forced anything. Yes, both Microsoft and Sony did add motion controls, but that was many years after their launches, and Sony at the least didn't go all-out with it. The Wii sold a lot, it's true, but it's also the first to get replaced, and is seeing the largest drop-off in sales currently.

Did they still win? I'd say so. As much as I'd like to give Sony the nod for overcoming a lot of hardships to be as competitive as they are, Nintendo certainly took and has maintained a rather commanding lead this gen. Of course, I don't believe the gen will be over until all competition has launched, and it's highly possible that the Wii could be in third place by then. But if we're talking about RIGHT NOW, then it's not too hard to say Nintendo is winning.

Edit: Really? They didn't overcome a negative view in the press and a much higher price point? They didn't overcome an early shortage of games and the overwhelming popularity of the other two systems to stay right in the race? The hack wasn't something they had to overcome?

And wasn't Nintendo the champ before Sony, the upstart, took the crown? Historically speaking, the winner of one gen isn't necessarily destined to win the next. In fact, except for 5&6, when has that ever happened?

Use your head before you comment. The proof of what I speak is right in front of you, assuming you have the eyes to see it.

It's funny that you give MS credit for overcoming a self-inflicted and completely avoidable wound like RRoD, yet you criticize Hicken for giving Sony credit for overcoming their own issues, like price, or bleeding exclusives. What's the difference? Oh right, there is none.

What's even funnier is your nonsense about how Sony didn't have anything to overcome. I mean, they are in first place! Right? Right!? Being first place last generation guarantees you won't have issues next gen. This is why N64, GameCube, and PS3 all mopped the floor with the competition. Also, unicorns are real.

Then there is this gem you had to offer up...

"So you mean last gen is still going on because PS2's are still selling?"

This is why reading comprehension is so important. Hicken said... "Of course, I don't believe the gen will be over until all competition has launched" which is the complete opposite of how you took it.

"As much as I'd like to give Sony the nod for overcoming a lot of hardships to be as competitive as they are,"

Oh please, what hardship are you talking about now? They had 2 generations in a row they completely dominated but failed to keep that momentum. It was nobody else's fault but theirs. They decided to go with BLURAY and they decided to charge a lot of money to play a console game on. They also decided once again to create a unfavorable gaming system for developers who had to struggle with the hardware.

They still managed to outsell the XBOX360 year over year, so what hardships are you going to whine about now, the media treating them unfairly? How about you start leading by example instead of blaming the media while your own actions are 10x worse?

"Use your head before you comment. The proof of what I speak is right in front of you, assuming you have the eyes to see it. "

Yes, please do Hicken. It's hard to use your noggen when it's in Sony's rear all the time. How about you start acting like a real gamer from now on instead of playing your games where it's you constantly fighting a war that doesn't exist?

You know who won? They all won because they all managed to be very competitive this generation. You know who lost? The idiotic fanboys still arguing about who won.

First, I already outlined what I perceive to be hardships that Sony has faced.

Second, it's been said many times that last gen is no indicator of what will happen with the next gen. Sorry if that's tough for you to grasp.

Third, you didn't disprove anything I said, but instead supported my claims(saying that they made a hard to develop for system, and then saying they "still managed to outsell the XBOX360 year over year sounds like you agree they didn't have it easy), so what's really bothering you?

It's very hard to use a noggen, since that doesn't exist; maybe you meant noggin?

Anyway, the console war, such as it is, has existed longer than I've been gaming, if not with the same intensity. And you know what? It'll be around as long as there are different consoles; you trying to pretend it's simply the product of the fanboys' minds- when simple logic would tell you that fanbos are actually the product, not the producer- won't make it magically go away. These companies ARE in competition with each other, after all.

Or does that not really exist, either?

Finally, if you're going to respond to what I have to say, at least have the balls to respond TO ME, and not NEAR ME. What are you afraid of?

Yes they are, that's not what i'm talking about. I'm talking about you, where do YOU fit into all of this? Oh that's right, holding a couple of pom-poms shouting from the bleachers 'I Love you Sony and i will fight for you Sony!'.

Get a life kid. They all had hardships this generation. Microsoft had to overcome the domination Sony had within the industry (just ask anybody trying to compete with a tablet against Apple or trying to compete against Nintendo and the handheld market). Instead Sony has mangaed to corrode their own name over the years and that hardship was mostly the fault of their own but you'll do a bang up job deflecting that all the way. Telling everyone to support Sony because they are the only ones that have exclusives for real gamers.

Microsoft had hardships too and they were their fault as well. Remember the RROD fiasco? That's a big hurdle buddy but did you put that into context next to your desire to always root for Sony? Nintendo had hardships too because the Gamecube flopped. The Wii was a major gamble and it paid off. In a world of high tech and online gaming them beat the odds, with poor relationships with 3rd party publishers too i might add. Electronic Arts were slow to support it because they believed Sony would dominate again. Other 3rd party publishers didn't have much faith in it either. The media you love to use as a scapegoat for Sony's hardships too didn't have any faith in the Wii either before launch just like they don't with the Wii U. But hey, it's just Sony they don't like right? What planet are you from anyways, PlaystationLand?

You're a lost cause, you know it, i know it and many others know it and those who don't are just as naive as you or are too afraid to admit it. Have fun rallying behind Sony while i have fun knowing they have no more or no less repect for you as they do for me. Why? Well because both of us are merely just customers and they don't pay people like you who are rampant of forums cheering for them all day long. I've got better things to do like actually enjoying my PS3 instead of worrying about what everyone else thinks or how the media treats the company behind it.

You don't know how to debate because your whole viewpoint is from a Sony fanboys perspective. Full of bias and totally out of context. One minute you'll go after someone for not talking about games on the Vita and attacking them for talking about other things Vita needs while you yourself will go into a topic about 6 JRPG's that would be nice upgraded additions to the XBOX360 and talking about something else because you don't even like the system so why list 6 games, right? Your whole viewpoint is skewed and it all stems from being a deranged Sony fanboy and the inability to see things rationally, normally and sanely.

So just skim over what i just said like water off a ducks back, put in your disagree because you ran out of bubbles and carry on to the next topic either defending Sony or going after someone who's being negative towards Sony. If only you got paid for your efforts.

There's an old say, don't argue with a fool because chances are some might not tell the difference. I'm done lowering myself to your level, you're a complete waste of time who has too much time on his hands. You're far too negative to talk to and it's actually quite depressing seeing what you post around here. You'd think since Sony is doing such a great job fulfilling your needs you'd be much happier.

Only because its ahead in sales, now if it were behind the other two then it would be ok to include the Wii with this generation. That's like saying that the PSP or Vita aren't competing against the DS or 3DS for sells, because they both have more advanced hardware than the closest Nintendo system at that time. What failed logic on your part!

facts are facts, sony and ms are BEHIND nintendo so let's just give them props for giving sticking to their guns and making a GAMING machine, not some wannabee livingroom entertainment unit that just happens to play games.

I agree with you whole heartedly and know where you are coming from with this comment. But the people here don't want to hear or think like that, because they need something to worship and brag about...

Nintendo has done a fantastic job dominating the videogame landscape for the current generation. The Nintendo Wii, and Nintendo DS entertainment systems respectively outsold competing consoles and handhelds. Both which have gone on to deliver new and exciting ways to enjoy videogames. New innovative ideas that were soon picked up by competing brands. Nintendo successfully delivered fully realized and supported motion control functions correctly.

Nintendo has successfully pushed for motion control functions, and futuristic dual screen action that has become standard in the gaming spectrum. Giving the Nintendo Elite supporter complete battlefield control in all forms of gaming and entertainment. The Nintendo business model this generation performed heads and shoulders above competing brands. Opening the flood gates to millions of non gamers around the world to give our beloved hobby a spin.

Last generation was dominated by rival forces. This generation when it comes down to numbers, profit, and all around success. Nintendo is the brand that rose to the occasion, and came out in the number one position in worldwide standings. Also delivering some of the highest rated awarding exclusive gaming experiences in the history of videogames.

Nintendo has ended this generation with an almost unstoppable momentum. Already delivering amazing results with the Nintendo 3DS entertainment system. And soon later this year with the next generation Nintendo Wii U entertainment system. Which introduces a new way to experience Elite Nintendo gaming with the Nintendo Wii U entertainment system tablet control functions. Available later this year wherever videogames are sold.

The 360, despite not having the largest list of first-party or console exclusives, had the most games that I cared about - Alan Wake (personal favorite first-party game this generation), Metro 2033, Witcher 2, the Halo series, Forza, Divinity 2: The Dragon Knights Saga, etc.

I prefer xbox live, despite having to pay for it, if only for the fact that it's more aesthetically pleasing and is better suited for chatting with friends online.

Developers seemed to favor the 360 as their main development platform (should be pc, truthfully), resulting in a good number of titles that simply performed better on that machine. Obviously this isn't the case for all releases. It was the exact opposite for a number of titles as well. I am just speaking in general.

So, to me - the only person that matters - the 360 was my console this generation. And that's why.

I think Microsoft won this generation, going from afterthought to changing the way the average persons approach what they want out of a console. They managed to push their agenda and force Sony and Nintendo to adapt and respond to their gameplan.

It's clear that MS views the games as a necessary part of the Xbox entertainment experience, but its only an aspect of it. Kind of like how smartphones still make phone calls even though that "feature" feels like an afterthought. If the rumors and speculation about the next Xbox being subsidized by cable companies as a cable box are true, we'll be witnessing the evolution (or devolution, depending on your POV) of game consoles. Sure they want to sell millions of copies of Halo, but in the end, they'd rather see you buying music and movies and TV shows and turning the Xbox name into something that is synonymous with an iTunes, Google Play or Amazon marketplace.

Nintendo made their money, and came in and went out in a blur, but its hard to say they didn't have a hell of a ride, selling the most consoles, thanks due most in part to being the cheaper option, but still providing some unique experiences along the way.

Sony entered feeling a little bulletproof, but got humbled. But that was good for gamers, as we got one of the strongest lineups of first party exclusives ever. I think so long as Sony keeps their missteps this generation in mind heading into the next era, they can rebuild their reputation amongst the mainstream, while still managing to be the "kinder, more gentle" Sony we have seen the past 3-4 years.

bad: lacked exclusives, no chargeable controllers included, no free multi player, no blu ray, no changeable hard drive other than ms, no browser, no wifi without paying for the adapter at first

lol all i had to do was switch the lists around and put no. i own a 360 but only because its jtaged and i can put pc mods on it, i agree xbox is better but only if you have a jtag. a regular ps3 vs a regular 360? lmao ps3 all the way